The UAE-based company Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has partnered with GE to establish a joint steering committee to create and implement a decarbonization roadmap. The goal of the agreement is to develop a plan for using hydrogen as a fuel source for the natural gas turbines used by EGA in the UAE.
In addition to exploring hydrogen as a fuel source, EGA is also examining the potential for incorporating carbon capture, utilization, and storage technology into its power plants to further reduce its carbon footprint. This move is in line with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative, which aims to decarbonize industries in the country.
EGA operates 33 GE natural gas turbines at its facilities in Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah, with a total power production capacity of 5,200 MW. The company is one of the major electricity generators in the UAE, and electricity generation is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
Aluminum smelting is energy-intensive, and producing the electricity required for this process results in more than half of the worldwide aluminum industry’s greenhouse gas emissions. By working with GE to reduce carbon intensity in power generation and switching to hydrogen as a fuel source, EGA hopes to tackle the global challenge of climate change.
The UAE has been actively exploring the use of hydrogen to reduce emissions, as demonstrated by the launch of its Hydrogen Leadership Roadmap at the Glasgow Cop26 summit in November. This partnership between EGA and GE is the first of its kind for GE Gas Power in terms of reducing the carbon footprint for power generation in the aluminum sector.
EGA produces approximately 2.7 million tonnes of aluminum every year and is already taking steps to decarbonize its operations and decrease emissions. The company’s partnership with GE and its exploration of hydrogen and carbon capture technology are significant steps towards building a more sustainable future and reducing carbon emissions.
